Rodri returns for Man City after eight-month absence | OneFootball

Rodri has returned to the Man City matchday squad to face Bournemouth following his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

The 28-year-old has been named on the bench for their penultimate game of the Premier League campaign by Pep Guardiola.

Rodri, who won the Ballon d’Or last year, has not played since tearing the ACL in his right knee against Arsenal in September.

The midfielder said in November said that he was targeting a return to action before the end of the season and returned to training in April.

Earlier this month Guardiola confirmed that Rodri would play once he had received full medical clearance to do so.

“The moment the official doctor says Rodri can start to play minutes, after that he will start to play minutes, but the doctors have to tell me.

“It was a difficult injury. It was an injury seven to 11 months, the doctor said. Every day, Rodri is making more sessions but we have to wait so he doesn’t make a step backwards and get injured again, so we have to be careful. Every training session, he feels better, and when the doctor says Rodri is stable and can start to play. After that, he is going to come back.”

Mateo Kovacic also returned to the starting lineup after missing the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace through injury.

Kevin De Bruyne has been named captain for his final game at the Etihad Stadium as a Man City player, before the Belgian leaves the club when his contract expires in the summer.

Man City vs Bournemouth lineups as Rodri returns

Man City starting XI: Ederson, Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Marmoush, Haaland

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Ake, Grealish, Doku, Nico, Rodri, Foden, Bobb, O’Reilly

Bournemouth starting XI: Kepa, Araujo, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Cook, Adams, Tavernier, Semenyo, Kluivert, Evanilson.

Subs: Dennis, Senesi, Brooks, Smith, Soler, Jebbison, Silcott-Duberry, Akinmboni, Winterburn

Read More – The last five teams to lift the FA Cup for the first time

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